25,000 Poisonous Tarantulas Invade Australian Town

A small town in Australia has become a hotspot for nearly 25,000 tarantulas. Photo: Reuters

A hoard of 25,000 venomous tarantulas has descended on a small town in Australia called Maningrida. The invasion has surprised everyone, including local residents and the wildlife experts.

The experts are not quite sure how or why the tarantulas arrived. "Normally, I find two or three hundred spiders in one spot," arachnologist Dr. Robert Raven said. "Presumably, something is missing that would hammer them or there is something good, like a food source."

The researchers believe that the venomous arachnids belong to a new species of tarantulas, the Tech Times reported. The team that discovered the species has nicknamed them the “diving tarantulas.” The arachnid has yet to be named scientifically.

Reportedly, one town resident was bitten by a tarantula and ended up vomiting for six to eight hours. According to researchers, the venom from these tarantulas can prove dangerous to the person affected. "These are not shallow bites," Raven said. "Long fangs can potentially do damage by ripping tissue."

The researchers believe the appearance of a huge number or tarantulas in the same spot could offer a great opportunity for researchers to study the reasons behind their behavior. In addition, Raven foresees the possibility of creating a new drug from the venom of the arachnid.

The team is working with local residents to further study the creatures. "The entire intellectual property concerning the spider -- its young, its adults, and its venom -- are all property of the community," Raven said in a statement.